KABUL, Afghanistan--Seventy people groups make up Afghanistan’s 26.7 million people. Most of those people practice Islam and have little or no access to the good news of Jesus Christ. The largest group, the Pashtun, compose 48 percent of Afghans with 12.9 million people. Other large groups include the Tajik, Hazara and Turkmen. Some groups, like the Sindhi, have as few as 14,100 people.

Of the10 largest people groups in Afghanistan, only four have portions of the Scriptures available in their language. Very few people groups have Christian broadcasts or the JESUS film available in their language. On average, more than 84 percent of the people have not even heard the gospel.

(NOTE The following links are to pages outside of the IMB Web site)

PASHTUN

The most populous people group in Afghanistan, the Pashtun, have access to the JESUS film and Christian broadcasts in their language. But they still do not have any portions of the Bible translated into Pashtu, their language. They are the most reached people group in Afghanistan, but 65 percent of them have not heard the gospel.

TAJIK

Tajiks, the second largest people group in Afghanistan, have access to the JESUS film, Christian broadcasts and portions of the New Testament in their language. At least 13 mission agencies are working among the people, but even with such resources only 34 percent of the people have heard the gospel. Less than 1 percent of their 4.8 million people follow Christ.

HAZARA

The Hazara are one of the largest people groups within Afghanistan, with 2.6 million people. But they have virtually no access to the gospel. The JESUS film, Christian broadcasts and the Scriptures have not been translated into their language, and only four mission agencies are working with the people. Less than 1 percent of Hazaras are Christian, and more than 80 percent of the people have not even heard the gospel.

TURKMEN

There are more than 671,000 Turkmen living in Afghanistan, making them one of the largest people groups in the country. The New Testament and JESUS film are available to the Turkmen in their language, although they do not have any Christian broadcasts translated into their language. There are no known Christian Turkmen, and 84 percent of the people have not heard the gospel.

TAIMANI

The Taimani are one of Afghanistan’s most numerous people groups, but they are also one of the most unreached. With no access to the Bible, JESUS film or Christian broadcasts in their language, at least 96 percent of the people have not heard the gospel. There are no known Christians among them and no mission agencies working with 480,100 Taimanis.

BALUCH

The Baluch have two mission agencies working among their 334,500 people. Portions of the Bible and the JESUS film are available to the people in their language. Less than 1 percent of the people are Christian, and 82 percent have not heard the gospel.

BRAHUI

Less than 1 percent of the 332,100 Brahuis in Afghanistan are Christian. They have portions of the Scriptures and the JESUS film available in their language. But more than 80 percent of the people have yet to hear the gospel, and there are no mission agencies working among them.

FIROZKOHI

There are no known Christians among the 240,000 Firozkohis in Afghanistan. They have no access to the Bible, JESUS film or Christian broadcasts in their language. With only one mission agency working among the Firozkohi, more than 95 percent of the people have not heard the gospel.

AIMAQ

The Aimaq are one of the most unreached people groups in Afghanistan. Of the 187,000 Aimaqs, 95 percent have not heard the gospel. They have no access to Scriptures, the JESUS film or Christian broadcasts in their language. There are no known Christian Aimaqs, and there are no mission agencies currently working with the people group.

JAMSHIDI

There are no known Christians among the 106,700 Jamshidis in Afghanistan, and no mission agencies working with the people group. The Bible, JESUS film and Christian broadcasts have not been made available to the people in their language. With so little access to the gospel, more than 96 percent of Jamshidis have not heard the message of Jesus.